Page 16 - MSN_384_AprilMay

Home & Lifestyle
PAGE 16 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • APRIL | MAY 2022

Pozole Rojo and the

Magic of Nixtamal

corn) is soaked and cooked in an alkaline nixtamalization doesn’t hold together very
BY STEVE HEIKKILA solution and then hulled. well as a dough. This is why you can’t make
The alkaline solution, at least among tortillas. Through the process of nixtamal-
I know what you’ve been thinking. What Mesoamerican cultures, was typically slaked ization, the alkaline partially breaks down
the heck is the difference between masa lime (calcium hydroxide), which you may the cell walls of the corn. It also turns some
flour and corn meal? The question keeps you know as cal or pickling lime. However, lye of the corn oil into emulsifying agents. Now
awake at night. Somehow they’re different, and wood ash are also sometimes used. you can make tortillas, and arepas, and
masa and cornmeal. Add water to masa Now you might be thinking, “Big deal. gorditas, and tamales. These are all very
flour, and you can make tortillas. Add water Let’s get to the pozole rojo already.” Bear good things.
to cornmeal and you … can’t. Why? Well let with me, because this actually is a big deal. It increases the nutritional value of
me cure your insomnia, friend. It’s because Nixtamalization accomplishes several very corn. The alkali increases the amount of cal-
of nixtamalization. important things: cium, iron, copper, and zinc available. More
Great, you’re now thinking. What the It makes corn taste better. That’s a good importantly, corn contains niacin (vitamin
heck is nixtamalization? Well pull up a seat, thing, right? You bet it is. B3), which is an important nutrient for
and let me tell you all about this fascinating It destroys mycotoxins, which are poi- human health. However, the niacin in corn
tale. There’s a Pozole Rojo recipe for you at sons produced by mold and other fungi isn’t bio-available for human absorption.
the end. commonly found on corn. Now that’s a After the process of nixtamalization, the
NIXTAMAL AND THE FASCINATING really good thing. No one likes poison corn. niacin is freed and becomes bioavailable.
STORY OF NIXTAMALIZATION It allows masa to form into a dough. Whoa! That’s an amazing thing!
Nixtamalization is an ancient indige- Ding ding ding! Your insomnia, remember? This last point about the niacin is a huge
nous American process whereby maize (aka Ground corn meal that hasn’t undergone deal. There is a rather nasty disease called

Mark Ulmen Bill Davis
406-570-1541 406-599-4355 406-489-2311

Chris Dunn was so awesome to work with. She made
the whole finding and buying experience so easy.
Thanks Chris!
— Jeff Pflughoft
Your Realtors with Montana Experience!
Call Chris Dunn 2050 Broadwater Ave #B, Billings We are your Real Estate Specialists!
We KNOW Montana!!!
406-698-3531 [email protected] | dunndeal.us www.PEDEandAssociates.com
Chris Dunn

PREMIER EMBRACE Life
IRIS

INDEPENDENT at SENIOR LIVING

LIVING IN Join us Great Falls, MT 59401
1104 6th Ave. N.

GREAT FALLS meal... irisgreatfalls.com
for a

our treat!

TOUR TODAY!

406.727.0447

[email protected]